The UK is set to establish a brand-new "school of government" aimed at equipping senior civil servants with essential skills, including artificial intelligence, marking a significant shift more than ten years after David Cameron dismantled the previous training institution for government officials.
Darren Jones, who serves as the chief secretary to the prime minister, is expected to unveil this initiative in a speech on Tuesday, where he will outline the government's strategy to modernize the civil service to meet contemporary challenges.
The closure of the former national school of government located in Sunningdale is now widely viewed as a misstep, especially given the increasing costs associated with hiring external training providers.
In anticipation of his speech, Jones expressed his commitment to collaborating with civil servants to transform the existing system, foster innovation, and enhance the internal capabilities of the state to effectively execute its functions.
This new educational institution aims to elevate the training provided to senior civil servants, covering a broad spectrum of subjects such as economics, finance, policy-making, leadership, management, commercial practices, AI, data analysis, digital skills, project and program management, as well as delivery methods.
Set to commence later this year, the school is expected to gradually ramp up its operations over the next three years until it reaches full capacity. Jones emphasized that by providing high-quality, in-house training for public servants, the School for Government and Public Services will significantly contribute to achieving a world-class professional civil service.
He also noted his determination to assist civil servants as the integration of AI expands within the public sector in the coming years. "I aim to work alongside the civil service to reform the system, drive innovation, and cultivate the internal capability necessary for effective governance," he remarked.
Jones’s upcoming speech will reinforce the administration’s ongoing efforts to drastically cut government expenditures on external consultants by 50% and decrease departmental operational costs by 16% over the next five years, aiming for annual savings of £2 billion by 2030. In a recent interview with the Times, Jones hinted at the possibility of raising performance-based pay and noted that some civil servants might face dismissal if they do not meet established standards.
The Civil Service College served as the primary training ground for Whitehall officials for many years until its closure in 1995 by then-Cabinet Office minister Stephen Dorrell, who deemed it inadequate for current needs. Its successor, the National School of Government, was shut down under Cameron and his efficiency advisor Francis Maude, during a time when civil servants were often labeled as "enemies of enterprise." This institution was replaced by a national civil service learning initiative that did not include a dedicated campus.
Under Keir Starmer's administration, there has been a push for improved efficiency, with the prime minister controversially asserting that too many individuals within Whitehall have grown comfortable in a "tepid bath of managed decline."
Last week, Wes Streeting, the health secretary, criticized the center-left for fostering an "excuses culture" that attributes the UK’s sluggish pace of progress to bureaucratic officials and interest groups.
However, Jones articulated at the Institute for Government conference that the plans to reform Whitehall are focused on enhancing the overall system rather than placing blame on civil servants.
He stated, "Civil servants share our frustrations... Over the years, we have developed a system that inhibits their ability to perform as politicians would prefer. The pressing question remains—how did we end up with a bloated system? This has led to excessive internal discussions regarding permissions, mandates, and risk-taking, resulting in less action.
"I do not intend to criticize civil servants or departments; it is ultimately the responsibility of ministers to reshape the system according to their vision. Digital ID will play a role in this transformation."
This approach opens up a dialogue about the evolving role of civil servants and the necessity of adapting training methods to meet the demands of a rapidly changing governmental landscape.
